Sprawling Population Growth leading to Unimaginable levels of Pollution:

Case Study-Kanpur

Abstract

Kanpur has been in the news recently, but for all the wrong reasons. Once known as the Manchester
of India having many flourishing industries, is now struggling for its existence. Major reason for
city’s downfall is the sprawling population without adequate infrastructure causing rampant
pollution. According to 2011 census the total population of Kanpur was 45.81 lakh. The population
growth at this increased rate is a lot to take for the city considering the stagnant infrastructural
development. Also, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) global air pollution database
released in Geneva, India has 14 out of the 15 most polluted cities in the world in terms of PM 2.5
concentrations and the worst being Kanpur with a PM 2.5 concentration of 173 micrograms per cubic
meter. The tragedy that has over taken Kanpur has many contributors. The leather industry,
municipal corporation as well as bad political influence have led to such sad state of affairs. The
increase in population is creating a lot of pressure on the resources of the city. Seeing the amount of
money involved in the leather industry, more and more people of attracted to the industry without
understanding the veracity of the harm caused to the environment. Further, though the trees are cut at
a high rate in order to accommodate the increasing population however, such is done without having
a planned layout. The research paper delves in to the interplay between sprawling population and
environmental condition in the present district of Kanpur by considering various factors that has
contributed in placing them in direct connection.